A Cozy Flannel for Fall

The Colette Negroni is my first foray into menswear and boy was it overdue! It is now a late birthday / early Christmas gift for my boyfriend who bought me my first (and current) sewing machine, drives me to draping class on Saturday mornings, helps me with fittings, allows me to indulge in spontaneous Joann trips for pattern hauls and sucks it up when he steps on pins in the ...

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The Making of a Wedding Dress pt. 1

Let me start this post with saying that I am not engaged - I just wanted to try making a very fancy dress that I might actually be able to wear someday. If I lived in the UK, I would have tackled an evening gown instead for the Dressmaker's Ball, but since I don't, I ended up with these lovelies on my cutting table. Meanwhile, the boyfriend has been helping ...

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The Spring/Summer Wanted Tee

This shirt may look familiar because I made a winter version in ponte for my last post. I wondered for a while if this is worth its own post, but this tee has become an instant go-to due to the pattern and the fabric, so the answer is yes! The pattern is the Wanted Tee by Vanessa Pouzet, a close-fitting tee with a square neckline and 3/4 sleeves. I need to ...

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How to Make Solids Pop – M6883 & Wanted Tee

My favorite way to start a project is to purchase a fabric in a print or color I like, then look up inspiration using similar fabrics. This time, I started with Navy Blue Midweight Stretch Ponte De Roma Solid and set off to find dress styles that could work for the office. I fell for the way the contrast piping elevated these otherwise basic silhouettes, and after looking up several tutorials such as this ...

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Palm Print Off-Shoulder Dress

Happy belated new years Cali Blog Squad readers! I'm excited to share my first - and what I already predict to be - my favorite make for the year. This is the Butterick 6052 off-shoulder maxi dress made up in White Palms on Navy Rayon Challis Print and partially lined with Black Cotton Lawn. Let's start with the fabric. This challis print is currently sold out, but keep an eye out for this ...

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Coppelia Cardi – Two Ways

Hello again! I'm excited to be back with two makes for this month's post - the Coppelia Cardigan from Papercut Patterns made up in two ways for layering goodness all year long! I squeezed the first version, a cropped wrap with long waist ties, out of about a yard of leftover bamboo knit from my Santa Fe top as a wearable muslin. The fabric is sold out now but I could definitely use a version ...

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Santa Fe Top with Lace Insets

A little over a year ago, I was defeated by a slippery, white bamboo knit not at all unlike the fabric I used for this version of the Hey June Santa Fe top. When the pattern first launched and I saw one tester's beautiful version in knit and lace, I thought it was time to try and redeem myself. I used this Winter White Bamboo Stretch Jersey Knit and White Embroidered Eyelash Lace. The knit is smooth ...

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Hi, I’m Chui!

Hi! I'm Chui from Wear the Ducky Tie. I reside on the East Coast (Jersey). By day, I am an IT analyst. By night, I spend all my money on the latest fabric, patterns and notions! Ever since I was little, my mom has been sewing for me, from stuffed animals to my graduation gown. My favorite sewing related memory with her, however, was when she turned one of my ...

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